Vaclav Havel's political satire at Moravian

Vaclav Havel was a Czech playwright who went on to become president of his country.

Inspired by the absurdities of life in Eastern Europe under Communism, Havel wrote "The Memorandum." It's an absurdist political comedy that looks at how citizens react to bureaucracy as employees in an unnamed company attempt to translate a memo written in "Ptydepe," a constructed language designed to eliminate the ambiguity of natural language

It's one of Havel's best-known plays and it's being performed for the first time in the Lehigh Valley this weekend by Moravian College, which has close ties to the Czech Republic. The Moravian Church was founded in Czechoslovakia, where Bishop John Comenius was born. Havel, who became president in 1989 when Communism ended, traveled to Moravian College in 1991 to rededicate the college's statue of Comenius. After his death in 2011, Moravian decided to perform one of his plays in his memory.

"I am excited to be producing this show, not only because of the many connections between Moravian and Havel, but also because I lived and worked in Prague during Havel's presidency," says director Christopher Shorr. "He has been an inspiring and influential figure in my life."

Performances are at the Arena Theatre at Haupert Union Building at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $15; $10, students and seniors. Buy at http://www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org. Info: 610-861-1489.

An exhibit of photographs of Havel by Czech photojournalist Oldrich Skacha will be on display on the lower level of Haupert.